Is Your Counselor a Good Fit?
In order for psychotherapy to be truly effective it is essential that you are comfortable with your counselor.
Training for psychotherapists gives them the tools they need to help you but unless you feel you can trust them all of their training is for naught.
There are some questions you can ask yourself about your mental health counselor to make sure they are a good fit for you.
One point to keep in mind is that many times mental health therapy is a process that produces anxiety and strong emotions.
Be sure that you are not resisting therapy and transferring your fears and anxieties onto your counselor and your relationship with them.
If you find that you have gone through many counselors, you may want to examine your true feelings about mental health therapy and the process itself.
Relationship: How do you feel when you talk to your counselor? Do you feel comfortable and do you trust them.
If their personality fits with yours you should feel comfortable speaking to them about your issues.
This is one of the most important aspects for the success of your therapy.
Attitude: Does your counselor seem to care about people and view them as beings that can be healed or do they view people as damaged and unable to change? Your counselor must have a positive attitude about your therapy for it to be successful.
Road Map to Success: If your counselor is experienced they will explain the course of therapy that they are recommending and how it will work.
This helps the therapy process more comfortable and helps you to be able to deal with the process and the emotions that come up.
Listening and Empowerment: Does your counselor really listen to you and hear what you are saying even if you are criticizing them? Counselors that are successful listen to their patients and acknowledge what they are saying.
They are able to handle criticism and admit if they have made a mistake.
They also do not attempt to cure a patient, but instead they help the patient cure themselves.
There just a few things to consider when you are beginning therapy with a new counselor.
Although training for psychotherapists gives them book knowledge, it is your relationship with them that will be of the greatest benefit in psychotherapy.
If you don't feel that they are a good fit for you don't feel guilty about ending the relationship.
It may take a few times to find the counselor that is right for you, but when you find one that is a good fit you can be on the road to healing and recovery.
Training for psychotherapists gives them the tools they need to help you but unless you feel you can trust them all of their training is for naught.
There are some questions you can ask yourself about your mental health counselor to make sure they are a good fit for you.
One point to keep in mind is that many times mental health therapy is a process that produces anxiety and strong emotions.
Be sure that you are not resisting therapy and transferring your fears and anxieties onto your counselor and your relationship with them.
If you find that you have gone through many counselors, you may want to examine your true feelings about mental health therapy and the process itself.
Relationship: How do you feel when you talk to your counselor? Do you feel comfortable and do you trust them.
If their personality fits with yours you should feel comfortable speaking to them about your issues.
This is one of the most important aspects for the success of your therapy.
Attitude: Does your counselor seem to care about people and view them as beings that can be healed or do they view people as damaged and unable to change? Your counselor must have a positive attitude about your therapy for it to be successful.
Road Map to Success: If your counselor is experienced they will explain the course of therapy that they are recommending and how it will work.
This helps the therapy process more comfortable and helps you to be able to deal with the process and the emotions that come up.
Listening and Empowerment: Does your counselor really listen to you and hear what you are saying even if you are criticizing them? Counselors that are successful listen to their patients and acknowledge what they are saying.
They are able to handle criticism and admit if they have made a mistake.
They also do not attempt to cure a patient, but instead they help the patient cure themselves.
There just a few things to consider when you are beginning therapy with a new counselor.
Although training for psychotherapists gives them book knowledge, it is your relationship with them that will be of the greatest benefit in psychotherapy.
If you don't feel that they are a good fit for you don't feel guilty about ending the relationship.
It may take a few times to find the counselor that is right for you, but when you find one that is a good fit you can be on the road to healing and recovery.
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